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Jan 14 Report: Rochester ranked the second best place to live in U.S.

(THE MED CITY BEAT) - Rochester jumped up five spots to claim the title of the second best place to live in the U.S. for 2015, according to a report by the website Livability.

The site analyzed more than 2,000 small to mid-sized cities on factors such as education, transportation and housing to find the "most livable" communities in America. The editors of the site touted Rochester's excellent health care, stable economy and vibrant arts scene as reasons for the high ranking.

The Mayo Clinic is a big deal, and in many ways has defined Rochester. It draws 2 million people each year to this town of 100,000 from literally all over the globe. While in Rochester, they and their loved ones stay in hotels and spend money in the community. Many come for lengthy treatments. They bring more than cash; they bring culture and ideas.

— Livability.com

The website also detailed the city's anticipated growth under the Destination Medical Center initiative. The $6 billion plan, which was outlined in a 700-page document last month, is expected to create 35,000 to 45,000 new jobs over the next 20 years.

Source: Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments

The website noted, though, that increasing the city's population in a short time can "knock the livability right out of a city." But Rochester Mayor Ardell Brede, who was interviewed for the report, said the city is ready to handle the growth.

“I think 98 percent of the cities in the U.S. would love to have this challenge,” Brede told the website.

Madison, Wis. was the only city in the country to rank higher than Rochester on this year's list. Several other Midwest cities, including Iowa City (#10), St. Louis Park, Minn. (#27) and La Crosse, Wis. (#95), finished in the top 100.